Many people know the Lotte New York Palace as the “Gossip Girl” hotel or the “Queen of Mean” Leona Helmsleys former residence. Both are true. But it is also a divine hotel that still seems to pleasantly surprise New Yorkers who take advantage of everything it has to offer.
In addition to its aforementioned fame, the hotel has something more important to offer. It is part of the Villard Houses, built in the 1880s by McKim, Mead & White, which are considered New York City landmarks and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed in the Neo-Italian Renaissance tradition, modeled on the Palazzo della Cancellaria in Rome, the Villard Mansion is today considered one of the finest living examples of the Gilded Age. In the mid-1970s, the Archdiocese of New York, owner of the property, cleared the way for hotel development, and in 1980, when it first opened as the Helmsley Palace, the Villard Mansion was restored to prepare it for use as a public hotel space.
In its current reincarnation as the Lotte New York Palace, the property combines the Villard Mansion with a modern 55-story tower, for a total of 909 rooms. The Palace offers a total of 733 guest rooms: 330 Superior Rooms, 113 rooms with views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 230 rooms with premium views of the Manhattan skyline, and 11 suites. The Towers at Lotte New York Palace are part of the property, but still separate: it is a luxury Midtown hotel within a hotel, with 176 premium rooms and suites occupying the top 14 floors of the hotel, including 100 Towers Rooms, 22 Executive Suites, 7 Tower Suites, 39 Corner Suites, and a selection of specialty suites. The Towers offer the most opulent and spacious guest rooms in the city, offering newly designed accommodations with picture-perfect skyline views. Tower guests enjoy amenities including butler service, a private lobby, a dedicated concierge, Maybach house car pick-up service, packing and unpacking service and a complimentary in-room cocktail bar.
There’s really no competition, though – the specialty suites outdo the rest. Debuting in 2020, the Royal Suite Collection consists of eight unique suites ranging in size from 230 sq. m. one-bedrooms to a 460 sq. m. three-story penthouse. As part of the unveiling, Lotte New York Palace also unveiled four newly renovated suites designed by award-winning interior designer Forrest Perkins.
There is the Jewel Suite by Martin Katz, a collaboration with the renowned jewelry designer Martin Katz. It’s a 5,000-square-foot Art Deco daydream where guests who book receive a complimentary original Martin Katz Diamond Microband Ring (retail value $2,500); a private consultation with either Martin Katz or a staff member; daily afternoon tea service; and complimentary pressing of evening gowns and black tie. The suite itself prominently displays Katz jewels and also features a wood-burning fireplace; a 10-seat dining room; an en-suite kitchen; a fully furnished outdoor terrace and garden; and floor-to-ceiling windows.
A sparkling balm for your senses (and my personal favorite), the Champagne Suite is inspired by the crème de la crème of Champagnes, a 460-square-foot tribute to this sparkling delicacy spread over three floors and featuring carefully curated art and elements of contemporary opulence. Upon entering, warm black and bronze tones are contrasted with a Nouveau Nero-style polished marble foyer and Italian stone-textured walls to create an elegant penthouse perched above the New York City skyline. Upstairs, hues of Chardonnay, rich Pinot Noir, and sparkling rosé are found throughout the master bedroom suite and guest bedroom with two queen beds, each with its own impressive ensuite bathroom. In addition to the terrace, fireplace, dining room, and kitchen, there is also a fully equipped wine cellar, library, and tasting room, as well as a beautifully landscaped and furnished outdoor terrace with a waterfall spa.
And last but not least, prepare for the beauty sleep of a lifetime in the Hästens Ultimate Sleep Suite. Highlights of this two-bedroom retreat include a spacious living/dining area with an open kitchen and dining table for six, a library nook and spacious bathrooms with soaking tubs and glass showers. The master bedroom features the $250,000 Hästens Vividus King mattress, providing an unparalleled sleeping experience. The suite starts at $10,000 per night and comes with two keepsake sets of Hästens pajamas and slippers.
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The Gold Bar
There are five dining options on-site, three of which we’ll mention here. Inspired by the bygone era of opulent New York City hotels and the classic cafes and bistros of Europe, VILLARD offers breakfast dishes featuring locally grown and sourced eggs and dairy, as well as meats, and house-baked breads and pastries.
The Gold Bar invites guests to experience the glamour and opulence of the Gilded Age beneath the original 1882 gold ceilings, offering modern interpretations of classic hand-crafted cocktails like the Carnegie, The Mrs. Astor and Hemingway, inspired by iconic figures from historic New York City. The dining experience is actually surprisingly on point, with dishes so flavorful you may not be able to stop eating. Special mention goes to the tuna tartare (truly one of the best I’ve had in New York) and the black truffle fries.
Rarities, however, is truly where luxury love meets. This is an intimate 25-seat salon that offers an exclusive and personalized drinking experience for New York’s elite. Accessible by reservation only, through a discreet entrance just steps from the hotel’s courtyard, the venue offers an eclectic and rich menu of exceptional champagnes, Prohibition-style bottled spirits, modern classics and a wine cellar for connoisseurs. There are vintages of rum and whiskey found only here, vintages from the early 20th century and the rarest spirits that true collectors will drool over – set amidst a leather and velvet space, with wooden versions of classic board games for an added old-school touch.
And last but not least, there’s the ila Only Spa. The sister spa is a gem hidden deep in the English countryside, and its New York property follows suit. It may not look like the rest of the hotel, but its modern feel is perhaps the perfect contrast to the historic property. Not only does it have some of the best and most attentive therapists you’ll find in the city, but it also has a whole host of stress-busting treatments using organic ingredients grown on site, a private yoga studio, bespoke hair and nail care, and treatment rooms with cutting-edge “sound healing” experiences designed to restore calm to your body at a cellular level. There’s even—here’s the kicker—one of the city’s first robot masseuses. Now that’s a game-changer! Leona would have been proud.
Lotte New York Palace is located at 455 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022
